From 10th June 2024, it will be a legal requirement in England to microchip your cat if they are older than 20 weeks. This new law will make it easier for lost or stray cats to be reunited with their owners and return home safely.
Our pet cats undoubtedly bring joy into our lives, but there’s no denying that most of them live more independently than dogs – with many cats allowed out of the home on their own, to roam around the local area.
This is where microchipping comes in – inserting a chip just under your cat’s skin, for people to be able to track you down as their owner.
Keep reading about everything you need to know about microchipping your cat, including what it involves and how much it costs.
What does microchipping your cat involve?
Microchipping is a small identification device that gets inserted just underneath the skin of a cat. It is usually placed on their back or near their neck, where there is more excess skin. It shouldn’t hurt your cat; it’s often described as being a similar pain to having blood drawn. Many owners microchip their cats when they are under anesthetic being neutered, anyway.
Microchipping is essential for any cat owner. If a cat is lost, they can be handed into a local vet clinic, where the microchip can be scanned. This will present a unique code that can search for the owner on a nationwide database.
Why is microchipping your cat now a legal requirement?
While microchipping was previously considered essential, but not legal – it is now compulsory for cat owners. As of 10th June 2024, it is a legal requirement for owners to microchip their cats before they reach the age of 20 weeks (around five months). You must book an appointment as soon as possible.
If owners are found not to have done this, they will then have 21 days to get their cat microchipped– or else face a fine of up to £500.
The government estimates that of nine million pet cats in the UK, around 2.3 million are currently without a microchip, meaning that getting them safely home if they ever become lost is incredibly difficult; which is why this new law has come into force.
Madison Rogers, Head of Advocacy, Campaigns and Government Relations for Cats Protection, explains that unfortunately, cats going missing is much more common than you might imagine – which is why microchipping is so essential.
“Some owners think they are never going to go through the trauma of losing their pet cat, but in the last year 115,000 pet cats in England went missing and never returned home,” she tells Country Living. “In fact, it’s very easy for cats that live indoors to escape, particularly in the summer where it’s easy to accidentally leave a window or a door ajar.”
She also notes that things like collars are usually not enough of a guarantee of being reunited with a lost cat. “Collars can easily drop off, become damaged so that the address details become unreadable and, if they are not quick release, can become snagged on obstacles like tree branches,
“In contrast, a microchip is safe, stays with your cat for its lifetime and is linked to contact details that are stored safely in a database. Provided that owners keep the contact details up to date, then a microchip provides the very best chance of being reunited with a lost pet.”
How much does microchipping cost? And where should it be done?
Microchipping can be done at your local vet easily; though you’ll likely have to book an appointment in advance, so don’t simply turn up expecting it to be done that day.
Usually, microchipping costs between £20 and £30. However, animal charities and welfare centres often offer microchipping at a reduced cost, so this is an option well worth checking out if you are on a tighter budget.
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It’s important to note that your details will be stored on the database, but will need to be changed if you move house or change a phone number. You may have to pay a small fee for this to be done.
The law now states that it is essential for your cat to be microchipped before the age of 20 weeks, as most veterinary professionals advise that the procedure is done before your cat goes outside for the first time, which is generally not advised until they are at least five months old.
Of course, this is in place to ensure that, should your cat go missing on their first time outside alone, they can hopefully be easily found thanks to their microchip.
So if your pet kitten or cat isn’t currently microchipped, it’s important to mark this as the next task on your life admin ‘to-do’ list.
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